The country of origin, durability, efficiency and type of panel all determine the final cost of a solar panel. According to a survey that we conducted on 1,000 homeowners with solar, solar panels cost between $15,000-$20,000 on average per home.
The cheapest solar panels come from China, according to Tatiana Boronnikova, Business Manager and Senior Editor at A1 SolarStore. “The most famous Chinese brands with cheap panels are Jinko Solar, Trina Solar, JA Solar and LONGi Solar.” In contrast, she noted that panels from North American brands are slightly more expensive, including Silfab, Mission Solar and Canadian Solar.
The difference in cost typically means a difference in warranties. “Chinese panels have shorter product warranties – usually, 10-15 years, with 12 being [the] standard,” she added. North American panels may also offer better performance. “Expensive panels tend to have a better conversion efficiency.”
High-end brands like Panasonic and SunPower have design features that make their panels more durable, but also more expensive. For instance, Panasonic panels have an aluminum frame that can withstand 210 mph winds, and SunPower panels have a copper foundation that makes them resistant to cracking.
If you have limited roof space, high-efficiency panels like the ones offered by SunPower will help you maximize your solar power system’s energy production and minimize the number of panels you need. However, high-quality, high-efficiency panels are typically more expensive, and having the most efficient panels on the market isn’t necessary if you have ample roof space. Making sure to routinely clean and maintain your solar panels can also help to improve the efficiency of your system.
Temperature coefficient is also an important solar panel efficiency measure, especially if you live in a hot climate. A favorable temperature coefficient is as close to zero as possible, indicating that efficiency doesn’t go down very much in temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius.
There are three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are the most popular, efficient and long-lasting panels of the three. They’re also the most expensive. However, because polycrystalline and thin-film panels are less efficient, polycrystalline are usually reserved for large, commercial installations where roof space is not a constricting factor, and thin-film are mostly used for smaller applications like on boats and RVs.
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